Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Coroners Act 1985 - SECT 15

Jurisdiction of coroners to investigate a death

15. Jurisdiction of coroners to investigate a death



(1) A coroner has jurisdiction to investigate a death if it appears to the
coroner that the death is or may be a reportable death.

(2) Unless section 15(2A) applies, a coroner to whom a death is reported must,
if it appears to the coroner that the death is or may be a reportable death,
investigate it or report it to the State Coroner.

(2A) A coroner who receives a report of a reportable death that is also a
reviewable death must report that death to the State Coroner.

(2B) A coroner who receives a report of a reviewable death that is not also a
reportable death must report that death to the State Coroner.

(3) Unless the Attorney-General directs otherwise, a coroner need not
investigate a death if-

   (a)  an investigation or inquest into the death is held in another State or
        in a Territory; or

   (b)  the death occurred outside Australia.

(4) A coroner may not investigate a reportable death that is also a reviewable
death unless the State Coroner has delegated the power to do so to the coroner
under section 10A.

(5) If in the course of investigating a reportable death a coroner finds that
the death is also a reviewable death, the coroner must-

   (a)  stop the investigation of the death; and

   (b)  report the death to the State Coroner.

(6) If a death is reported to the State Coroner under subsection (5), the
State Coroner may delegate the power to the coroner to investigate the death
under section 10A.

(7) A delegation made in respect of an investigation of a death to which
subsection (6) applies has effect as if it had been made before the coroner
commenced investigating the death.